Mat concern

SALFORD Reds coach Shaun McRae wants to reward his cup final heroes by naming the same 17 players for Sunday’s league game at Dewsbury – but he is sweating over Mat Gardner’s fitness. The powerful winger picked up a minor hamstring injury in the Reds’ sensational 60-0 Northern Rail Cup final victory over Doncaster at the weekend and is a doubt for the National League One clash at rock bottom Dewsbury Rams on Sunday, July 13, kick-off 3pm.

SALFORD Reds coach Shaun McRae wants to reward his cup final heroes by naming the same 17 players for Sunday’s league game at Dewsbury – but he is sweating over Mat Gardner’s fitness.

The powerful winger picked up a minor hamstring injury in the Reds’ sensational 60-0 Northern Rail Cup final victory over Doncaster at the weekend and is a doubt for the National League One clash at rock bottom Dewsbury Rams on Sunday, July 13, kick-off 3pm.

If he misses the game, young prop Stephen Nash could come back into the reckoning having recovered from a sternum injury.

McRae said: "I have pencilled Stephen Nash in for reserve team duty as I don’t want to change the first team after we played so well in the cup final.

"But, obviously, that situation would change if Mat Gardner was ruled out.

"We showed on Sunday just how good we can be when all 17 players play well, which is something that has not happened very often this season.

"And the performance and the result should give us a big lift for the rest of the league season.

"We have got to kick on now. We can’t afford to be complacent just because we already have some silverware in the cabinet. We want the League One trophy as well.

"We have got seven games left before the play-offs start so there is plenty of footy still to be played.

"We play Dewsbury away next. They will be hoping to catch us with a Northern Rail Cup hangover and it’s up to us to show our professionalism and our experience to make sure that doesn’t happen.

"We have given the players an easier start to the week than we normally would on the back of Sunday’s exertions and celebrations.

"But we will be well prepared come Sunday."

Dewsbury, who are coached by ex-Salford player Warren Jowitt and have former Red Chris Charles in their ranks, have only won one league game all season.

But McRae said: "We are not expecting it to be an easy game. The Rams have the threat of relegation hanging over their heads and are fighting for their lives.

"They will be refreshed after having had the week off and they come into the game in a bit of form having lost just 24-16 in their last game at Whitehaven. And we all know what a tough fixture that is."